No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 365: Great kindness has no merit

Ouyang Rong had an agreement with Qin Heng, the captain of Guoyi.

Qin Heng’s concubine, Mrs. Zhao, liked to raise begonia flowers.
If he had placed a pot of crabapple flowers on the wall of his house on Zhenguang Street in Xingzifang as usual,

That meant everything was fine, and reassured Ouyang Rong and others that everything would be business as usual.

And if the crabapple flowers disappear and a plate of azaleas appears on the wall,

That means there is something wrong with the Third House in Jiangzhou. Qin Heng is aware of the turmoil. There is something involving Ouyang Rong and Prince Xunyang's house, and they need to be vigilant.

However, the meaning of this code is not static.

At first, this was a kind of crisis warning agreed upon by the two people who had reconnected and dealt with each other.

However, as the Beigui garrison incident unfolded, Ouyang Rong and Qin Heng began to meet frequently to exchange information.

The relationship gradually warmed up and the two became close.

Even not long ago, in order to thank Ouyang Rong and the Xunyang Palace for their generous help, Qin Heng gave Ouyang Rong a personal token.

You must know that Wang Lengran is Qin Heng's immediate boss and controls Jiangzhou's military and political affairs. The power of Qin Heng's performance appraisal and promotion is in his hands.

Qin Heng's move was considered as going behind the boss's back to flirt with his newly airborne deputy opponent, and even make secret communications.

Different from meeting in private, giving a private token is regarded as "giving someone a handle". After all, if the token falls into Wang Lengran's hands, there is no way to explain it clearly.

It's almost like giving Ouyang Rong and Xunyang Prince's palace a certificate of submission.

So now, the disappearance of begonia flowers and the appearance of azaleas on the wall has become a code for Ouyang Rong and Qin Heng to meet in the Qinghe box on the third floor of Yunshui Pavilion.

The initial warning connotation has become a lot weaker, but it is still the same.

This simple method is safe,
However, because it is too simple and cautious, it conveys too little information and can only serve as a rough barometer.

Therefore, as the situation in Xunyang City becomes tense, Ouyang Rong has actually been considering eliminating this flowerpot code in recent days and replacing it with a new set of early warning signals that can subdivide the crisis levels.

It's a pity that before he could contact Qin Heng to discuss the implementation, he encountered a life-and-death matter tonight...

Guo Yu and Meng Shouguang found that everyone was silent along with Ouyang Rong, and they were confused. Guo Yu asked curiously:
"Excuse me, what is the meaning of this crabapple flower?"

Ouyang Rong did not answer.

Seeing that Ouyang Rong and others hesitated to speak, as if they had something to discuss, Guo Yu and Meng Shouguang looked at each other well and took the initiative to retreat.

Meng Shouguang met his master again tonight, with a hesitant expression on his face, not wanting to leave Li Xian's side. However, after receiving Li Xian's comforting voice, he honestly retreated temporarily.

In the flower hall, Ouyang Rong, Xie Lingjiang, and Li Xian's family were once again left.

Li Dalang whispered:

"Could it be that no one here in Jiangzhou has received the news about the poisoned wine, including Wang Lengran. The news is still on the way, so there is no news from Zhechong Mansion in Jiangzhou."

He sighed: "Thanks to Mr. Guo and General Meng, we learned the news first."

"It makes sense." Li Guo'er nodded:

"Look at it this way, now is the last window period. The longer it goes on, the greater the risk of a blockade being arranged when Wang Lengran receives news from the Wei family..."

"By the way, Senior Brother, there was something quite strange during this trip."

Xie Lingjiang, who brought back the news at night, raised his head and said to Ouyang Rong:
"It's midnight, and the lights are still on in the house on Zhenguang Street. I don't know if I got up early or if I'm still awake."

Ouyang Rong asked: "Have you gone in?"

"Not close." Xie Lingjiang shook his head and asked doubtfully: "Eldest brother, do you suspect there is danger inside?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "No, if it is really dangerous, there is a high probability that the lights will be extinguished and it will not alert people."

After a pause, he murmured: "Qin Heng and Zhao stayed up most of the night, just like us. Is there anything important..."

Li Guoer turned around and said:

"Ouyang Lianghan, there are lights on in the house, which at least proves that Zhao and the others are at home. The flowerpots were not changed because no one was home, but the crabapple flowerpots were placed because no one was home. It is a signal that they placed the crabapple pots to keep them safe and sound."

Ouyang Rong glanced at her: "That makes sense."

Xie Lingjiang suddenly asked:

"Thinking about the worst, could something happen to General Qin? He didn't come back with the latest news, and my concubine Zhao didn't know about it either. Moreover, because he didn't return home in the middle of the night, Zhao turned on the light and waited for the others. She was worried and didn't sleep."

Li Guo'er shook his head:

"If this is the case, something happened to General Qin, let alone how it was exposed. The situation has deteriorated to this point, which means that Wang Lengran has completely lost his face. It is very likely that he already knew about the female officer sending poisoned wine and started to mobilize troops to be on guard.
"After all, Mr. Guo and General Meng can send news from Luoyang, so there is no reason why the Wei family should not send someone to come and inform Wang Lengran and their arrangements in advance.

"The area around Prince Xunyang's Mansion must be unsafe now. The elite soldiers of Zhechong Mansion may already be on the way, and the city gates are being blocked one by one. If we don't leave now, we will just sit back and wait for death.

"When Lady Officer Caichang arrives tomorrow morning, it will be difficult to escape without missing anyone."

Xie Lingjiang blames himself:
"If I had known that when I was on Zhenguang Street, I could sneak into the courtyard and take a look at what was going on. It would be better than just guessing now... How about I go there again and look for General Qin?"

"There is no time. Sister Xie, it will be morning before you come back."

Li Guo'er looked at the timer in the corner of the hall and frowned slightly:
"Time is urgent. We can only guess and cannot verify everything. The poisoned wine incident was too sudden. The reminder will arrive tomorrow. How can we have so much time to find out the truth?"

She glanced at Ouyang Rong, who was frowning and saying nothing:
"Now that everything that can be verified has been verified, a decision must be made. Instead of being indecisive, it is better to take a gamble."

Ouyang Rong suddenly asked: "What are we going to do first when we come to Xunyang City?"

"Stay still, waiting for the opportunity to return to Beijing." Li Guo'er immediately answered crisply, and then pursed his lips: "But the situation is changing rapidly, one moment and another."

Ouyang Rong nodded slowly and said to himself: "Yes, this moment is not the other moment."

"Tan Lang, Amei." Li Dalang suddenly said:

"According to what Mr. Guo said, my grandmother only gave two cups of poisonous wine to me and my father. She didn't say she would deal with you..."

He looked at Li Xian and said with a sad smile:
"We are really cornered and trapped to accept the order. In fact, not all of us will die...Tan Lang, Miss Xie, my father and I will see if we can help you clear the line. After we leave, you guys remember to take good care of my sister and my sister." mother……"

"Brother!" Li Guo'er scolded: "What nonsense are we and you talking about? If you and my father die, why should my mother and I live alone?"

Xie Lingjiang also nodded and said:
"Without uncle and eldest son, my eldest brother and my father would no longer want to get involved in this indifferent and indifferent imperial family affairs."

"Her Royal Highness the Princess and Junior Sister are right, one will be prosperous and one will be devastated."

Ouyang Rong looked at everyone and whispered:

"When we left Dragon City, we all agreed to advance and retreat together. How could we live in vain?"

Li Xian and Li Dalang stared at them with blank expressions.

Li Guo'er is acting vigorously and resolutely, so he should make the final decision first:

"Then let's vote. Everyone has a teacup and fruit plate at hand.

"If you want to stay and gamble for a while, please have a cup of tea.

“Those who want to leave and flee to the west can take a raw pear.

"Those who do not move will abstain."

After the words fell, the flower hall fell silent.

Li Bao'er looked around and picked up a raw pear first.

Wei Mei glanced at Li Xian, hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took out a raw pear.

The mother and daughter found that Xie Lingjiang, Li Xian, and Li Dalang did not move. They turned their heads in tacit agreement and stared at Ouyang Rong.

As if waiting for his move, wanting to follow.

Everyone's eyes turned to Ouyang Rong.

The situation is urgent and time is running out. There is no time for hesitation and delay.

Is he still as immovable as a mountain, or is he a gentleman who has changed like a leopard?

A choice must be made.

Ouyang Rong suddenly stood up, walked to Li Guo'er's table, picked up a large and plump pear from the fruit plate, and

Xie Lingjiang, Li Xian, and Li Dalang saw this and took the pears one after another.

梨。

Liye.

Full vote in favor.

Li Guo'er breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak: "Ouyang Lianghan..."

Ouyang Rong threw away the raw pear in his hand, took a bite of the pear flesh and interrupted: "Actually, if you put yourself in their shoes, there is another possibility that the begonia flowers on the wall will not change."

Li Guoer frowned, Li Xian and others looked at each other and asked curiously:
"What is possible?"

Ouyang Rong looked at them, then turned his head and glanced outside the door without saying anything...

The door to the flower hall opened again.

Everyone gathered again.

"Mr. Guo is gone?"

"Yes." Meng Shouguang nodded: "It's almost dawn. He has to go back to Beijing. He can't see His Highness off anymore. He has to go back to the Prime Minister's Palace for business."

Ouyang Rong and others nodded.

In fact, it was tacitly understood that Guo Yu was loyal to the Prime Minister's Palace, so naturally he would not flee westward with Li Xian and others.

"What about General Meng?" Ouyang Rong asked.

"I will go wherever Your Highness goes!" Meng Shouguang said in a loud voice.

"Shou Guang, it's me who has caused trouble for you." After a night of emotional ups and downs, Li Xian's eyes were a little red.

"I will never forget His Highness's kindness in promoting you!"

Wei Mei sighed towards Li Dalang and Li Guo'er:
"Back when your father was still the crown prince and took charge of the general of the Right Cavalry Guard, General Meng was still Du Yu. During a hunt in the west, an assassin made a sneak attack. General Meng blocked the sword.

"Qilang asked the imperial doctor to take good care of him, and he was later appointed as a close guard... Later, I and Qilang were deposed as common people, which also implicated him. Over the years, I was afraid that he would be implicated again, so it was inconvenient to contact him. Unexpectedly, during this crisis, General Meng still coming."

Li Dalang and Li Guoer respectfully called him "Uncle Meng" one after another.

When Ouyang Rong heard this, his expression was somewhat moved:

"I didn't expect that the prince would have such loyal people under his command. It's a good story."

After a pause, he asked with some embarrassment:

"General Meng was just listening in. He should know where the prince is going now."

"I understand."

Meng Shouguang nodded heavily, firmly and without regrets:

"Don't you just want to be a rebel? After being ostracized by traitors in the court for so many years, it would be cool to be a rebel! Your Highness, Mr. Ouyang, you have made your decision. Shall we leave now?"

"Yes."

Ouyang Rong didn't hide it either:
"Let's go now, follow the route we discussed before, but it has to be more precise."

"Listen to Mr. Ouyang." Meng Shouguang said seriously.

Ouyang Rong nodded and first said to Xie Lingjiang:
"Liu Lang went to Huaiye Lane?"

"Well, as eldest brother ordered, I have already gone over there to prepare and take Aunt Zhen and Miss Ye to the west gate..."

"it is good."

Ouyang Rong breathed a sigh of relief:
"Let's set off after making arrangements and meet them at the West City Gate."

He turned his head and said to everyone:
“The plan is this, we go in two groups, don’t go together, it’s too dangerous.

"Your Majesty and Da Lang, followed by Junior Sister and General Meng, took off on the road and climbed over the wall at night to leave the city.

"The princess and the little princess, please feel aggrieved and dress up as the female family members in the lower house. They will follow you in a carriage and leave the city through the west gate.

"Let's gather at the peak of the twin peaks. There are the clippers and the Burning Sky Dragon Oil prepared below..."

Ouyang Rong finished his instructions in an orderly manner and looked at everyone with questioning eyes.

Xie Lingjiang and Li Xian's family nodded vigorously.

Meng Shouguang sighed: "Mr. Ouyang is really talented and thoughtful."

Ouyang Rong waved his hands modestly and asked seriously:

"General Meng, before I ask you what your cultivation level is, my junior sister is a seventh-grade Confucian book translator. She can easily carry one person across the city."

Meng Shouguang's words were concise and concise: "Seventh grade, Qin Rui Shi."

"Soldier and Qi practitioner?"

"Ah."

"good."

Ouyang Rong praised and breathed a sigh of relief:

"Two seventh-grade Qi practitioners should be enough. I won't be afraid of a full team of patrol soldiers."

Meng Shouguang smiled and asked again: "Mr. Ouyang, have you ever practiced Qi?"

"I?"

Ouyang Rong smiled sheepishly and shook his head:

"A scholar can only order this."

Meng Shouguang lowered his gaze and saw the handsome young man in front of him, tapping a simple piano case on the table twice.

"Keep the light."

At this moment, Li Xian took out a jade token, walked up and put it into Meng Shouguang's hand, interrupting his concentration.

"Your Highness, this is..." Meng Shouguang asked.

Li Xian explained:
"There are only two Hetian jade tablets in the world. It was a gift from the late imperial brother, and the emperor's brother's one is now in my possession.

"This one belongs to me, Shouguang, put it away. I'm in a hurry and can't take out anything valuable at the moment. Please forgive me."

Meng Shouguang waved his hand quickly: "It's so precious, it can't be done, it can't be done."

Li Xian held on to the stronghold, but Meng Shouguang was helpless.

"Put it away. You give up your fame and fortune in Luoyang and come to this remote southern region to follow me. With such a loving relationship, nothing I can give you is too much."

"This, this..." Meng Shouguang was unexpected.

Li Xian held his palm and said sincerely:
"Don't worry, I will risk my life to follow you. I will never treat you badly. When I arrive in Guizhou and take charge of Kuangfu Mansion, I will discuss with Duke Li and let you be the Chief Sima of Kuangfu Mansion. You will be able to control thousands of people. You will be better than in the Kuangfu Mansion." Luoyang was the capital of Yu Wei and Feng...

"In addition, from now on, your surname will be 'Li'. I give it to you. Let's see who dares to laugh at your Fanren bloodline in the future. We will be a family from now on."

When Meng Shouguang heard this, he was shocked at first, and then his eyes turned red and tears gathered in his eyes:
"Your Highness, this, this great favor..."

Li Xian waved his hand to interrupt, pointed at Ouyang Rong who was smiling at the corner of his mouth and said:
"If you want to thank me, thank Tanlang. I am stupid in terms of rewards. Fortunately, Tanlang reminded me that these were Tanlang's suggestions. I urge you not to let down Zhongliang."

Ouyang Rong waved his hand and said:
"It's all the prince's decision, but General Meng... No, it's General Li now. Please don't worry, General Li. When we get out of trouble, when we return to Kuangfu Army, we will work hard together. After winning the great cause, it will be no problem to be granted the title of Marquis and Prime Minister... "

Before he could finish speaking, there was a clang.

The 1.8-meter long-armed man in front of him was already kneeling on one knee, kowtowing to Li Xian and Ouyang Rong.

Meng Shouguang's face turned red, he clutched the jade plaque tightly, his voice choked with sobs:

"Your Highness, Mr. Ouyang, a certain general will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Li Xian and others looked pleased.

Ouyang Rong smiled, waited for a while, walked over, helped Meng Shouguang, who was grateful for his loyalty, and looked him up and down.

Just when Meng Shouguang was a little uneasy being watched and was about to ask, Ouyang Rong suddenly asked:
"Why is there no sound of wooden fish?"

It's a statement, but it's a question.

Meng Shouguang was stunned: "What?"

"it's okay no problem."

Ouyang Rong's smile became brighter and brighter, pointing to a piano case on the table:
"Come on, come on, I have to show you a big treasure before I leave. I won't let anyone else."

"What big baby?"

The people around him suddenly burst into good-natured laughter.

Meng Shouguang looked increasingly curious.

(End of this chapter)